Sep232010

Murray spoke on Senate floor, offered bill for immediate passage

(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor to urge her
colleagues to support a bill to extend the critical sales tax deduction for
Washington state families as well as other tax cut extensions for middle
class families, clean-energy companies, and small businesses. Murray pushed
Senate Republicans to allow this bill to pass that will put money back into the
pockets of families across Washington state and help businesses expand, create
jobs, and boost the local economy.

Senator Murray asked
for unanimous consent to pass this critical legislation immediately—but it
was blocked by Senate Republican John Thune.

Key excerpts from
Senator Murray’s speech:

“I’ve heard from so
many of my constituents who told me they are holding off on making major
purchases because they are simply not sure if that tax deduction will be there
for them. Families are putting off purchases of cars and home appliances which
hurts our state's businesses that are still struggling to recover…This is not
just about removing a bias in the tax code that is fundamentally unfair to
states like Washington. It’s also about encouraging spending, boosting
the economy, and providing some long-awaited certainty so taxpayers can plan
their financial future.”

“Washington state families
are hurting. So many of them are fighting every day to stay on their
feet. This bill is not going to solve their problems overnight—but it
will put some money in their pockets and help local businesses expand and
create jobs. And it pays for these tax cut extensions responsibly by closing
corporate loopholes.”

“Once again I urge
Senate Republicans to put politics aside and allow these fully paid-for tax
cuts to be extended. They may think blocking this bill is good politics—
but it’s hurting families and small business owners, it’s hurting our
clean-energy companies, and it’s making it harder for our economy to
recover.”

The full text of
Senator Murray’s speech follows:

“Madam President—middle class
families in my home state of Washington are struggling.

“I have heard from so many
who have lost their jobs, who have seen their life savings disappear.

“Who told me they are
doing everything they can to pay their bills, keep their homes, and get their
lives back on track—but they could use just a little bit of help.

“So it is for these
families—and so many others across Washington state—that I come to the floor
today.

“Madam President—over the
last few months we have tried to pass legislation that would extend critical
tax cuts for middle class families across the country that are struggling and
could use some support.

“But every time we tried
to pass this bill—Senate Republicans would band together to block it.

“They said no to a
common-sense proposal to cut taxes for innovative companies that expand and
create jobs.

“They said no to a bill
that would help clean-energy companies compete and expand.

“They said no to our plan
to extend the critical sales tax deduction that would put more money into the
pockets of families in states like Washington.

“They said no despite the
fact that these tax cuts were fully paid for!

“So today I want to focus
on just a few pieces of this legislation that middle class families and small
businesses in my home state of Washington are especially counting on us to
pass.

“First, Madam President—I
want to spend a few minutes on one of the tax credits being blocked that is
truly a matter of fundamental fairness for families in my home state of
Washington.

“As my colleagues know,
state and local governments across the country use a number of different tools
to raise revenue.

“Some have income
taxes; some use sales taxes, while others use a combination of the
two.

“Families who pay state
and local income taxes have long been able to offset some of what they pay by
receiving a deduction on their federal taxes.

“But until 2004, taxpayers
didn’t have the ability to deduct their sales taxes— which meant that families
and small businesses in states where that was the main revenue source were
paying more than their fair share.

“This was wrong—and I
fought hard back in 2004 along with Senator Cantwell to change this provision
and level the playing field for Washington state.

“I am proud to say this
change has saved families and small business in my state hundreds of millions
of dollars every year.

“Unfortunately,
however—the sales tax deduction is due to expire this year—and unless we act,
families across Washington state are going to suffer.

“They are going to have
less money in their pockets, and they are going to have more uncertainly in the
tax code.

“I’ve heard from so many
of my constituents who told me they are holding off on making major purchases
because they are simply not sure if that tax deduction will be there for them.

“Families are putting off
purchases of cars and home appliances which hurts our state's businesses that
are still struggling to recover.

“So Madam President—this is
not just about removing a bias in the tax code that is fundamentally unfair to
states like Washington.

“It’s also about:
encouraging spending, boosting the economy, and providing some long-awaited
certainty so taxpayers can plan their financial future.

“In other words—it’s about
helping middle class families and supporting Main Street businesses.

“Madam President—I also want
to talk about another tax credit being held up in this bill.

“I recently visited a
clean-energy company in Seattle, Washington called Propel Fuels.

“This business has been
fighting to market domestically produced, low carbon biodiesel— but they depend
on a critical biofuels tax credit that expired and that this bill would extend.

“Propel Fuels represents
the future of our economy.

“They are the kind of
company that will help make sure our country remains at the forefront of
innovation and growth.

“A company working to
drive our economy forward and create new, 21st century careers.

“But they can’t do it
alone.

“After years of subsidies
and tax breaks for the oil industry, companies like Propel Fuels depend on the
clean-energy tax credits in this bill to be able to compete on a level playing
field.

“These credits support
companies working on new, innovative, and renewable energy sources.

“And they will help them
continue their work to: unshackle our economy,tap the creative energy of our
workers, and create good, high-paying jobs in my home state of Washington and
across the country.

“This is exactly what our
economy needs right now—jobs right away, and a strong investment in our future.

“And that is why it is so
important that the biodiesel tax credit be extended, along with the R&D
credit, and other tax cut extensions in this bill that help innovative
companies expand and create jobs.

“Madam President—this
shouldn’t be a partisan issue—it’s common sense.

“We put together a bill
that would extend tax credits to individuals and small businesses— tax credits
that have been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans alike.

“A bill that would provide
incentives for clean-energy companies to expand and create jobs.

“That would allow
Washington state families to deduct local sales tax from their federal returns.

“That would support
companies that are innovating and creating and help our economy get back on
track.

“And that is fully paid
for!

“Madam President, Washington
state families are hurting. So many of them are fighting every day to stay on
their feet.

“This bill is not going to
solve their problems overnight—but it will put some money in their pockets and
help local businesses expand and create jobs.

“And it pays for these tax
cut extensions responsibly by closing corporate loopholes.

“So the Senate Republicans
who have opposed this in the past now have a choice: do they stand with
middle class families and innovative businesses like Propel Fuels to cut their
taxes?

“Or do they stand with the
large corporations to protect their unfair tax loopholes?

“Madam President, once again
I urge Senate Republicans to put politics aside and allow these fully paid-for
tax cuts to be extended.

“They may think blocking
this bill is good politics— but it’s hurting families and small business
owners, it’s hurting our clean-energy companies, and it’s making it
harder for our economy to recover.

“Madam President—I am never
going to stop standing up for middle class families and Main Street businesses
in my home state of Washington.